Continuous drier



May 10, 1949.

A. A. LocKj CONTINUOUS DRIER Filed Marci; 24, 1945 v l INVENTOR. ARTHUR A. LOCKE ATTORNEY Patented May 10, 1949 naar UNITED stares PTENT oFFlcE CONTINUOUS DRIER Arthur A. Locke, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 24, 1945, Serial No. 584,638

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a continuous dryer and, in particular, it relates to means for drying articles such as laundry in a continuous and progressive manner.

Most conventional methods and apparatus used for drying laundry comprise generally a perforated barrel or sleeve type container into which a quantity of wet laundry is placed. The perforated sleeve is rotated while hot air is circulated through the container. Upon completion of the drying operation, rotation of the sleeve is stopped and the contents thereof are manually removed. This conventional dryer is generally referred to as a batch type dryer.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a drying apparatus for laundry which is continuous in operation; to provide a drying apparatus in the form of a rotating sleeve having inwardly projecting ribs in which the ribs picl; up the laundry and drop the laundry in a manner as to cause advancement of the laundry along the length of the sleeve; to provide a drying apparatus of the rotating sleeve type in combination with forced air in which the inlet end of the sleeve is smaller than the outlet end, thereby causing a differential in the force of the air as it moves through the sleeve; and, to provide a drying apparatus which is automatic and eicient in operation and which is economical to manufacture and operate. These and other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational View, partly broken away, of a drying apparatus forming an embodiment of my invention; and,

Figure 2 is a transverse view, in section, of a dryer sleeve taken along lines lI-II of Figure 1.

With reference to the drawing, I show an embodiment of my invention comprising, in general, a sleeve I, a blower 2 and a duct 3 connecting the blower With the sleeve. An outlet duct 4 connects with the opposite end of the sleeve I. The sleeve l is of a cone or truncated shape in the form of a shell having open inlet and outlet ends. The smaller end of the sleeve is the inlet end and the larger end of the sleeve is the outlet end.

A pair of annular channels 5 and 6 are attached to the outer circumference of the sleeve, and function as a track for engaging with supporting wheels l. At least one of the supporting wheels I is driven by means of a motor 8 connected to one of the wheels I through a reduction unit 9 and flexible coupling Ill. The wheels V1 are supported by bearings II mounted on a frame I2. An adjusting screw I3 provides means for raising or lowering the frame relative to the floor line for the purpose of changing the angle of the sleeve. Also Aassociated with the frame I2 is a thrust wheel I4 which rides against the track 5 and restrains the sleeve I against axial movement.

Within the sleeve I is a plurality of ribs I5. These ribs are attached to the inner wall of the sleeve and project inwardly thereof. The number of ribs as provided within the sleeve may be varied in number and are equally spaced around the circumference of the sleeve. Preferably, six such ribs are employed in the present embodiment. It is the function of these ribs I5 to piel: up laundry as it enters the sleeve and to elevate the laundry to a point equal to about three-quarters of the height of the sleeve.

At this point the laundry slides oi of the ribs I5 and is dropped to the bottom of the sleeve. The exact moment when the laundry slides off of the rib is dependent somewhat on the speed of rotation of the sleeve. In the present case the sleeve is rotated at a speed of approximately l5 revolutions per minute. On this basis, it is desirable that the rib should not extend radially of the sleeve but should be provided with a backward slope forming an angle of approximately l5 degrees with4 a radial line extending to the center of the sleeve. It is also desirable, although not necessary, that the ribs I5 be bent or positioned against the inner surface of the sleeve in a slight helical formation. This is desirable to prevent all of the laundry picked up by the rib from dropping simultaneously. In other words, the helical rib permits a progressive dropping of the laundry from the rib to permit a greater uniformity of the distribution of hot air against the laundry as it is dropped. It is also desirable that the ribs I5 be corrugated to prevent the laundry from sliding longitudinally along the rib. By this arrangement a better control is maintained in regardv to the progressive advancement of the laundry through the sleeve.

By means of the adjusting screw I3 the axis of the sleeve may be varied slightly from a horizontal position. In this way it is possible to control the extent of advancement of the laundry as it is dropped from the rib. Since the force of air,

`as it moves through the sleeve, also functions to advance the laundry through the sleeve, it is necessary in some cases that the axis of the sleeve be adjusted so that the laundry normally drops from the rib to a backward position, closer to the inlet end. vThe forced air, however, as it enters the small end of the sleeve prevents such a condition and causes at all times an advancement of the laundry, as it is dropped from the rib, in a progressive movement through the outlet end of the sleeve.

Associated with the inlet end of the sleeve I is a duct 3. This duct does not contact the sleeve but is in close fitting relation therewith. A ange I6 projecting froml the duct 3 extends ashort. distance Withinthe inlet end of the sleeve.

Located within the duct 3 is a heating unit formed of a plurality of finned coils II. .'Ihese: coils I'I are connected with a circulating steam line I8. The blower 2 is supported from a ceiling I9 and connects with the duct 3.. .A ,motor El also attached to the ceiling I9 drives the blower 2` through a belt ZI. The inletend.A oftheublower connects with a duct 22 which, for practical pur poses of air control, has its inlet at some remote location, such as outside of a building.

Associated with the inlet end of the sleeve I 'is a continuous conveyor 231. This conveyork in aninclined position and is adapted lto conveying laundry which `is positioned thereon into: the feed endof the sleeve fl. Theconveyor-is--driven from and may form aV part of: other' continuous means (not shown) for Washing and wringing out-laundry. An opening 241 isf provided: i-nthe duct 3 through which-theconveyor 231 extends. A baf ile 25=Y deflects and prevents any" substantial. loss of air due to the opening 24.

The duct `4" at the opposite emd; of.' the: sleeve; -I is1in the Vform-of a vertical. column and communicates in close engagement;-wit'laa:the` outlet Aendzrof the: sleeve. Clearance, hovveverg. is provided; to permit free rotation ofi the, sleeve without inter'- f'erence vvitlr` the duct. outlet lfend; ot the sleeve projects slightly Within. the duct to prever-1t any. direct lossr or'iorced air. in. the: case of the inlet duct it is prefera'ble that 'the` outlet endof the duct l'lext'end to somef remote loca.- ltion, such as:` outsidewofa building. in. order 'to `dispose of. the moist air.

Extending' Within: chend-uct :lf andpositlpnedf at the bottom outlet-endrof thesleeve I isa-.belt con.- :.5

veyor 26.. 'llieY principali portion of the. conveyor 26: issupported .onY a tablet-:like structure i211.. The pun-dose. of. the conveyor '26 iste` receive laundry as it, is' ejected from the outlet endA of the sleeve ,anrrto carry the laundry y.over the table-lilees-.tructure 21- wheref-t isV sorted, folded', orwhere other disposition is made;v An opening .is made of. a sufiicient size in the Walll of the duct 4z to permit the conveyor to extendtherethrougn. and1 at the Sametime allowing: sufficient clearance for the laundry as it rests uponl the conveyor belt.

Intheoper-ation of the dryer, as herein deu scribed, thensleeve iscausedtot rotate at approximately l5 revolutionsper minute. The steam is turned. on 13o-heatv the coilsV ICI- and. the blower 2 isset into operation. .Also,. the-conveyors 23 and 2.6 areidri-ven. A blast-,of hot, air now follows a course tlfirouglfll the sleeve. and out through the duct 4. Wet laundry is positioned. on the :con-.-

veyor 3v and movedinto-the inlet Lend .of the sleeve j Il. The' laundry which enters the present l.drying apparatus is `usuially subject. toa. wringing oper,- .ation so that the greater partof the water isV al.-

Aready `removed from the laundry- As the. wet

laundry drops into. the inlet. endroit'y the. sleeve it is picked up by .one of .the ribs I.5.to. a point ap; proximately three-quarters et the height of the diameter of the sleeve.y At this' point it slides off of the rib and. .is dropped' to .the-- iuittom of the sleeve. The hot blast or air'freacts' against .the

dropping laundry to remove moisture therefrom. At the same time, the force of the hot air advances the laundry along the length of the sleeve. This operation is repeated a number of times until practically all of the moisture is removed from the laundry. As the laundry becomes dryer its Weight is reduced and, consequently, the forced air reacts to move the laundry in greater increments .of advancement. To off-.set this condition, the sleeve is larger at the outlet end than the inlet end, thus the force of the air is reduced in effectiveness. Finally, the dried laundry is blown out of the end of the sleeve and onto the conveyor beltV 25" Where it is removed from the drying apparatus.

`From the foregoing description, it is believed Aapparent that I. have provided -a novel arrangement for drying laundry which is continuous in operation and which provides a control over individual articles of laundry to insure that such laundry'wllnot be removedfrom the lapparatus until .the laundry is completely dried.

While I have shown a vprederredi embodiment 4'of my invention, it is to be understood that it issusceptible ofl vthose. modifications which appear within .the spirit. of the invention .and .as .appearing particularly within'the scopev of thewappended claims..

Having thus described my invention what. I :claim isz:

I.. A continuous laundry dryer comprising .a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, means for' rotating. the sleeye, the outlet lend of' the sleeve being larger in diameter than the inlet Eend and the lperipheral wall of the sl'eeve'being unitormlytaperedifrom the inlet end` to the outlet endl,` -a--duct communicating with the inlet end of the sleeve and.' anV outlet duct communicating with the opposite end of thesleeve, said inlet duct at its-point of communication with the inlet end of `title sleeve beingsubstantiallyequal in area to the area at the inlet end for the sleeve', means Within the-sleeve for picking `up laundry `and dropping it from: :am elevated positiorl-` upony rotation of the sleeve, .and forced avirmeans: directed from vthe inlet duct for advancing.' :the laundry toward the outlet end of Vthe sleeve.

2., A. continuous; laundry dryer comprising a sleeve having open. inlet and'.r outlet ends, means tor rotating-they sleeve; the outlet end of thel sleeve being larger in. diameter than. the inlet. end and the peripheralfwall of the-sleeve being uniformly tapered from the inlet'end Vtoi the; outlet end, the axis ofthe sleeve at theinlet end. being positioned at a` lower velevation than .the axis of the` sleeve at its outlet end, a duct communicating with the inlet `end. of the sleeve andan outlet duct communi'cating with the' opposite end of the sleeve, mea-ns within. the sleeve for picking up laundry and dropping it fromy an eleva-*ted position upon rotation of. the` sleeve-,. and forced air means di.- rected. from; the; inlet duct for advancing the laundry toward thee outlet` end; ofthe sleeve.

3. A. continuous. .laundry dryer `comprising a sleeve having4 openinlet; and outlet ends, means for rotating, the sleeve.. the outlet end of the sleeve being larger in diameter than the inlet endand the peripheral wall of the sleeve being uniformly tapered fromthe inlet end to the outflet end,` adjustable means associated. with the -sleevefory tilting the axis oi the sleeve. a, duct communicating with the inlet; end of' the sleeve and an outlet duct communicating with the. op-

posite end. of thesleeve, saldi inlet ductzatits: point .of communication Witlrthe inletendorthe sleeve being substantially equal in area to the area at the inlet end of the sleeve, means Within the sleeve for picking up laundry and dropping it from an elevated position upon rotation of the sleeve, and forced air means directed from the inlet duct for advancing the laundry toward the outlet end of the sleeve.

4. A continuous laundry dryer comprising a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, the outlet end of the sleeve being larger in diameter than the inlet end and the peripheral Wall of the sleeve being uniformly tapered from the inlet end to the outlet end, means for rotating the sleeve, a plurality of ribs projecting from the inner surface of the sleeve Wall and extending along the length of the sleeve, a duct communicating with the inlet end of the sleeve and an outlet duct communicating with the opposite end of the sleeve, said inlet duct at its point of communication with the inlet end of the sleeve being substantially equal in area to the area at the inlet end of the sleeve, and forced air means directed from the inlet duct for advancing the laundry toward the outlet end of the sleeve.

5. A continuous laundry dryer comprising a sleeve having upon inlet and outlet ends, the outlet end of the sleeve being larger in diameter sleeve being uniformly tapered from the inlet end than the inlet end and the peripheral Wall of the to the outlet end means for rotating the sleeve, a plurality of ribs projecting from the inner surface of the sleeve Wall and extending along the length of the sleeve, each of the ribs having corrugations the length of which extend in a direction transversely of the axis of the sleeve, a duct communicating With the inlet end of the sleeve and an outlet duct communicating with the opposite end of the sleeve, said inlet duct at its point of communication with the inlet end of the sleeve being substantially equal in area to the area at the inlet end of the sleeve, and forced air means directed from the inlet duct for advancing the laundry toward the outlet end of the sleeve.

6. A continuous laundry dryer comprising a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, the outlet end of the sleeve being larger in diameter than the inlet end and the peripheral Wall of the sleeve 'being uniformly tapered from the inlet end to the outlet end means for rotating the sleeve, a duct communicating with the inlet end of the sleeve and an outlet duct communicating with the opposite end of the sleeve, said inlet duct at its point of communication With the inlet end of the sleeve being substantially equal in area to the area at the inlet end of the sleeve, means Within the sleeve for picking up laundry and dropping it from an elevated position upon rotation of the sleeve, forced air means directed from the inlet duct for advancing the laundry toward the outlet end of the sleeve, and heated surface means Within the inlet duct for heating the air moved by the forced air means.

7. A continuous laundry dryer comprising a sleeve having open inlet and outlet ends, means for rotating the sleeve, the outlet end of the sleeve being larger in diameter than the inlet end and the peripheral wall of the sleeve being uniformly tapered from the inlet end to the outlet end, adjustable means associated with the sleeve for tilting the axis of the sleeve, the axis of the sleeve at the inletl end Ibeing normally positioned at a lower elevation than the axis of the sleeve at its outlet end, a plurality of ribs projecting from the inner surface of the sleeve Wall and extending along the length of the sleeve, and forced air means directed from the inlet duct for advancing the laundry toward the outlet end of the sleeve.

ARTHUR A. LOCKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 486,806 Batcheller Nov. 22, 1892 630,059 Kemp Aug. 1, 1899 776,581 Angus Dec. 6, 1904 997,992 Grubbs July 18, 1911 1,103,381 Riisager July 14, 1914 1,695,652 Green Dec. 18, 1928 1,890,455 Consorti Dec. 13, 1932 2,079,280 Couch May 4, 1937 2,096,049 Lissauer Oct. 19, 1937 2,438,995 Forney Apr. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,005 Great Britain NOV. 9, 1889 249,998 Great Britain Apr. 8, 1926 

